Carlos A. Pérez, M.D., 88 of Springfield, passed away peacefully on August 21, 2023.
Dr. Pérez was an internationally recognized pioneer in cancer research and treatment in the field of radiation oncology. He was an international expert who made groundbreaking contributions in radiation oncology patient care, research and education. A Professor Emeritus and former Chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Mallinckrodt Institute at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Dr. Pérez was best known for his influential research exploring the most effective therapies for several types of cancer. He helped set the norms for treating cancer of the cervix, lung, breast and prostate and treated patients from around the world who traveled to St. Louis to seek his expertise.
He was a Co-Editor of “Perez and Brady’s Principles and Practice of Radiation Oncology,” which is called “the bible” of the specialty. An exceptional mentor, Pérez has trained more radiation oncology departmental chairs than anyone else in the country. A highly productive researcher and prolific writer, Dr. Pérez published more than 370 scientific articles and contributed to more than 43 textbooks.
He is survived by his three sons, Carlos S. Perez, Bernard Perez, and Edward Perez; their mother, his first spouse, Blanca M. Pérez M.D.; his grandchildren, Dacota Perez, Xander Perez, Emerson Doyal-Perez, and Mina Doyal-Perez; and his siblings, brother Jorge Pérez, sisters Maria Victoria Uribe and Nubia Perez; and his nieces Elizabeth, Veronica, Natalia, Adriana and Monica. Dr. Pérez was also preceded in death by his sister Maria Eugenia Chavez, Jan and CJ Wiggins; Patricia Blair; Libby Ward; and their extended families, including their own children and grandchildren, all of whom loved Dr. Pérez.
There will be a Memorial Service at 1:00 PM at Greenlawn North Funeral Home on Saturday, September 2, 2023.
All of Carlos A. Pérez’s family, friends and acquaintances are invited to pay their respects and to celebrate his memory.
Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to the Washington University School of Medicine, designating the donations for the Radiation Oncology department (https://medicine.wustl.edu/giving); or the American Cancer Society (https://donate.cancer.org).